GET YOUR LIBIDO BACK

Ask your doctor to prescribe a different hormonal contraceptive: a new brand, a lower-estrogen pill, or the Patch. Even though all forms of birth control increase SHBG levels, 30 percent of women who switch somehow get their sex drive back (which may be just a placebo effect).

Shelf your pills for 3 to 6 months, which should allow time for you to notice changes in your libido. With no artificial hormones swimming through your bloodstream, your ovaries will wake up from their snooze and start producing testosterone again. (Obviously, you’ll need a backup form of birth control if you do this and don’t want the pitter patter of little feet pounding in your ears).

Ditch the hormones altogether. While it may not sound like the most cutting-edge remedy, it is what many doctors prescribe. "If you've determined that there's nothing else that might be impacting your sex drive, certainly the first thing I would recommend is a hiatus from the Pill," says Alan Altman, M.D., a sexual-dysfunction specialist and assistant clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School. Of course, some women need the hormones to help treat medical conditions such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts, so it’s not an option for everyone. Plus, IUDs can be a long-term commitment, and messy barrier methods like condoms and diaphragms put an end to spontaneity faster than an 80-hour work week.

Consider which other mood-killing factors like depression, stress might be playing a part in your sex drive. Some prescription medications, such as some antidepressants and drugs to treat hypertension have been shown to contribute to a low libido. Even antihistamines can dry out the vagina, making for painful intercourse.

Find yourself a sexual-medicine specialist to help you discern the exact catalyst. Just knowing what's wrong can be enough to help ease your frustration and get you excited about the prospect of putting the whoop! Back in your whoopee. Once you're in the habit of generating some heat between the sheets, you'll feel more relaxed and confident--not only sexually but mentally as well. Just think of it as the sweet feeling of sex-cess.